The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-11

ah ai tbat time the water was steasl.
iiy rising. When IL reached our knees.
a full hundred had been rescued Wa
could hear the loud shouts OF reioicin'
that greeted them, rs the last batch
were taken from the shaft. But il was
only an echo. in which we had no
snare. An over two hundred Of us
Yet remained. The water covered the
dead. Who they were, VIZ could not
tell.
The next called for by the "reliefs,"
were the old men. Some had already
lost ioothold, and were strugglin' in
the inky lake below an about rs.
Archie Cray's strong arms saved more
than one life in that awful hour All
who could. worked with desperate will.
Fear had palsied some. an made cow
ards Of those we had thought tho
bravcst.
An the water rose higher anil higher.
Its small chance for you an me.
Jack. whispered Archie. We are
young an strong an will be left To- :he
last. rs is right an just. II shouldn't
get ont alive. you'll see that nv bojy's
found for Dora to weep over and
bury?"
But just answered the lad: Wen
live or die tOgetherr' Then i tried to
find his hand, but my own touched
water instead.
Its up to the waist, Jack" he said.
with a shivcr. Eat this rate, in all
other hour it will be over our heads.
an then all will be over with Jack
Morton an Archie Cray. am not fit
to die, an Id like to live-tor D0rd."
Then go up now. Hark! There's
a shout for one more at the shaft. COZ
But Archie stood still an left anOthec
pass him ITS Tom Milton" he said.
Hes got mother to support III
mine-is in Heaven"
But think Of Dora"
Il leave her 10 You, Jack. She'd
never want. warrant"
An again / said: "Archy Cray, wen
live or die together"
Minute by minute the work of the
rcscucrs went on, till at last only
handful of living men were left in the
pit-a dozen, all told. an Archie
Cray an We're Of them; n miserable
group ut the foot of the shaft, waitin'
for the last descent Of the bucket.
The water was tOuchin' our Threats.
an we were chilled to the heart.
Archic's hand had closed on mine
with death-like grip. Indeed, death
did not seem far distant
COuragcm / shouted. please 4
God. we are going back to life-an'
DDrar'
The tender hOmc-name reused him
from his stupor. You arc sure of it,
Jack?"
Z" Yes; the buckets coming down.
An it reached us. indeed, soon aft
er. More dead than alive we
scrambled into it. Our fight with
death was almost over.
Up we wcnt-up, up in our perilous
sometimes knocking against
the sides of the shaft, an as often
stopping altogether. swaying between
water an earth. Archie had tainted.
Put with God-given strength l held
lim close. was saving him for
Dora.
An soon came our first glimpse Of
he glorious summer daylight over
head. 1t closed our eyes. an we could
10 longer look upward. But we were
-apidly going to it. Up, up. up, an
he old pits yawning mouth was
cached at last; kind friends crowded
bout Us. and kind hands placed
Archie Cray's still, blackened form on
stretcher But it was little Dora
PASSIONATE embrace that finally
brought him Ia. When he had spoken,
Ind she knew her brother would live.
he came an sought me out bruised
IN black though l was.
Jack" she whispered. sweet an
ow they tell me You saved Archie
5 you promised. i lore you for IL,
hOugh didn't when You asked me to
&c your wife. last week"
Archie Cray has been a changed
nan from that awful summer day in
he English cOlliery pit We returned
q America soon after. an Dora is now
ny wife. -JfrS. FINLEY PraIeH. ia ".
/. Observer.